LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING

Yesterday saw me in three doctor’s offices
I visited with the pulmonologist
The neurologist and my internist
Thankfully, in addition to Will and David
My positive attitude accompanied me, though
A positively focused attitude does not guarantee
Receiving test and biopsy results that
I’d choose for myself
A positive attitude is one that remains fluid so as
To seek the silver lining when test results offer
News that initially makes our spirits cringe
So here’s the bad news that I’ve received:
The mass invading my right lung is not
Composed of cotton candy as I’d hoped.
The mass is a Leiomyosarcoma, and
As to the silver lining—by the time
We walked into my internist’s office
Dr. L had appointments lined up for
Me with three specialists, who confer
Together on a regular basis concerning
The most effective course of action—
One being an oncologist sarcoma specialist
One being an radiation oncologist CT specialist
One being a thoracic surgeon
And not only were appointments made with
All three but I’ll see the oncologist sarcoma specialist
This morning, the thoracic surgeon, Thursday morning
And the oncologist CT specialist early next week
I’m consistently amazed at the fact that
Upon her return after maternity leave
My internist has been taking such
A heartfelt interest in moving this process
Forward AFAP (as fast as possible)
So, here I am, today, spirit buoyed on
The wings of love as my flock flies as one and
As to inner peace, my mind feels relaxed while
Being taken care of in such a mindful manner by
My internist and her staff, all of whom have
Entered the ring with me in such
An above and beyond fashion that—honestly
How could I feel anything other than
Fortunate when considering vital portions of
This most recent hand, which I’ve been dealt?
Here’s yet another reason to feel my good fortune:
Will, being a doctor, continues to update a file on
Me that contains copies of every test result, so
Whenever I can’t retain details of import verbally
Offered up in one doctor’s office or
Another, Will’s surgeon’s mind readily explains
Whatever I didn’t fully understand or he gently
Guides me toward reconsidering details that
I’d misheard or forgotten—how fortunate is that
During this time of unexpected crises?
Can you guess the first thing I did
Upon leaving my internist’s office?
Upon getting into the car with Will and David
I dialed our local Cookies In Bloom and ordered
Two caramel apples with peanuts, which prove to be
Amongst my very favorite treats, because
I keep losing weight, so—why not indulge?
Oh—one more thing—in yesterday’s post
I listed a variety of tests taken over these
Past several weeks, and somehow I forgot to
Mention the fact that I’ve also undergone three MRIs
So another bit of good news is the fact that
With Will’s meticulous file-keeping skills
My brain does not feel overtaxed with
Details, which, at this point, feel like
A five hundred piece puzzle inside
My head that’s in need of lots of
Piecing together before the bigger picture of
What I’m actually facing comes clear ...
With so much to feel thankful for floating
Around within my think tank, the rapids
Feel less threatening, so far, than you might surmise ...